Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Rod Blagojevich verdict: Guilty on one count: Lying to the FBI

Rod Blagojevich verdict: Guilty on one count: Lying to the FBI

Rod Blagojevich verdict: Guilty on one count: Lying to the FBI
A federal jury today convicted former Gov. Rod Blagojevich of only one count against him: lying to the FBI. Jurors said they were deadlocked on the other 23 counts against the former governor, and all four counts against his brother Robert.

Blagojevich faces up to 5 years in prison. The former governor pursed his lips and shook his head slightly.

As jurors filed out, Blagojevich's wife Patti collapsed into her seat and the former governor's attorney, Sam Adam Jr. moved next to Blagojevich and put his arm around him, rubbing his back.

The verdict was announced shortly before 4:30 p.m. after 14 days of deliberation.

Blagojevich and his wife arrived at the courthouse for the announcement around 3:45 p.m.

"God bless you, God bless you, I didn't let you down," Blago said as he shook hands with admirers. He also high-fived spectators.

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Patti laughed as Blagojevich kissed her on the cheek.

As he entered the courtroom on the 25th floor, he said: "How are ya' doin'? Say a prayer for us."

Robert Blagojevich arrived with his wife and son around 3:55 p.m., waiving to people and reporters gathered in the lobby.

U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald and Robert Grant, head of the FBI in Chicago, were also in the courtroom for the announcement.

Blagojevich was charged in 24 counts with misusing his powers as governor to extort campaign contributions from those seeking legislation, appointments or other favors.

The alleged crimes of Blagojevich, who was elected in 2002 on a pledge to reform the chronic ethical stench of Springfield, were brazen even by the often low bar of Illinois politics.

From his first months in office, prosecutors said, Blagojevich plotted with key advisers to siphon money off state deals. He was also accused of trying to shake down state contractors, a children's hospital, an experimental school and even a congressman -- his onetime close friend Rahm Emanuel, who is now President Barack Obama's chief of staff.

Despite his election successes, Blagojevich was long a pariah to many in politics, including his fellow Democrats, and he often blamed his legal troubles on the backstabbing of political enemies. Even so, his trial shined an unflattering light on the unseemly deals hatched and hazy ethical lines crossed all too commonly in Illinois politics.

Critics of Obama were hoping the trial would tarnish the president as well, given the stunning nature of charges that Blagojevich hoped to cut a deal over Obama's former U.S. Senate seat to land a cabinet post, ambassadorship or lucrative private sector job for himself. Instead, wiretaps and testimony showed an incoming White House that was not only wary and unresponsive to Blagojevich but also unaware of much of his plotting over the Senate seat.

Throughout the two-month trial, Blagojevich maintained an upbeat public face as his character took a daily pounding not just from prosecutors but even from his own lawyers, who sought to minimize his peril by suggesting to jurors that the former congressman and twice-elected governor was naïve, silly and not very bright.

On secret wiretaps, Blagojevich often sounded profane, manic and contemptuous of not just fellow politicians but also the voters who put him in office. Meanwhile, witnesses portrayed him as an absentee governor who often shirked his official duties, hid in the bathroom to avoid difficult conversations and went deeply into debt while spending lavishly on expensive hand-made clothing.

Since the day of his arrest, Blagojevich said he couldn't wait to get on the witness stand and tell his side of the story. Then, when he had the chance, he opted not to testify and his lawyers did not call any other witnesses.
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Blagojevich convicted of lying to feds

From Katherine Wojtecki, CNN
August 17, 2010 5:42 p.m. EDT
Ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich faces charges including racketeering, wire fraud, attempted extortion and bribery.
Ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich faces charges including racketeering, wire fraud, attempted extortion and bribery.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Jurors deliberated for 14 days in the Blagojevich trial
  • The jury could not decide on 23 corruption counts
  • Former Illinois governor was accused of attempting to sell Obama's Senate seat
RELATED TOPICS
Chicago, Illinois (CNN) -- Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was convicted of a relatively minor charge -- giving a false statement to federal investigators -- but the jury hung on 23 other counts.
Jurors deliberated for 14 days but could not reach a unanimous verdict on the most serious corruption counts. Jurors also could not decide on the charges against Blagojevich's brother, Robert.
Legal analysts said the result was a victory for Blagojevich and his defense.
Attorneys and spectators filed into the courtroom shortly before 5 p.m. ET to hear the verdicts in the corruption trial.
U.S. District Judge James Zagel said earlier in the day that there was a "possibility" of a verdict soon and asked that the defendants remain within a half-hour travel distance from the courthouse.
Jurors had two questions for Zagel on Tuesday. First, they asked for a copy of the oath they took when they were sent to deliberate. For that oath, jurors were asked, "Do each of you solemnly swear that you will well and truly try, and true deliverance make, in the case now in trial and render a true verdict according to the law and the evidence, so help you God?"
The second question was, "If we do not reach a consensus of a specific count, do we leave it blank or report the votes split?" Zagel told jurors if they cannot reach a unanimous verdict on any count, they should write a single statement on each count and each juror should sign the verdict form.
Last week, the jury sent a note to Zagel indicating they were far from reaching a decision. The panel has decided on only two of the 24 counts against Blagojevich, the note said. Jurors failed to agree on 11 counts and had yet to consider 11 others involving wire fraud charges. Zagel encouraged them to continue deliberating and vote on each charge.
The former governor faces charges including racketeering, wire fraud, attempted extortion and bribery. A two-term Democrat, he was removed from office in January 2009 amid accusations that he attempted to sell the U.S. Senate seat that had been occupied by Barack Obama before Obama was elected president.
In one conversation recorded by federal agents, Blagojevich told an aide, "I've got this thing, and it's [expletive] golden. I'm just not giving it up for [expletive] nothing."
Conviction on the counts of wire fraud, racketeering and attempted extortion could each bring a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, while a conviction on the count of solicitation of bribery would carry a maximum sentence of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000. The maximum penalty for bribery conspiracy and false statements is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Blagojevich's brother, Robert, is standing trial with him on four of the charges.
Robert Blagojevich testified that his brother was "trying to politically work something to his benefit" in handling the Senate appointment but was thinking in terms of political horse-trading, not corruption.
"It didn't seem out of the ordinary, because Obama was taking a lot of people from Illinois with him to D.C.," said Robert Blagojevich, who raised money for his brother. He said the governor "was interested in the idea of being the head of Health and Human Services."
While awaiting trial, the ousted governor asserted his innocence in interviews and on Twitter, as well as during his appearances on the "Celebrity Apprentice" reality show.

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